Sunburn

Normally, the term Sunburn makes me think of being generally uncomfortable. I have been sunburned before, never really terribly, but it was pretty miserable. I can only imagine how awful it is for some of my friends who have really been burnt to a crisp.

Recently, I have found a whole new meaning for the word. The Widmer Brother Brewing Company has a Summer brew called Sunburn. I usually don't care for beer much, and I don't know much about it either. I can't really speak to how it's different than other beers. The only thing I can say about it is that its fantastic!

There is something sweet about it. Something very Summery. There is something that reminds me of sitting in a rocking chair on a porch on a warm Summer evening. There is something that tastes like a quiet night spent with close friends around a bon fire. I might not know a lot about beer, but I do know a lot about having a good time. This beer is going to be a main ingredient, right along side good friends and good music.

Those Who Can't Do, Teach

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of USC. All opinions are 100% mine.

Ever feel dissatisfied with your life? I do. Sometimes I think about going back to school. I feel like that would help me to feel more fulfilled. What kind of career would I have if I went back to school? I think I would like to be a nutritionist. I just find it very interesting, and I think that I would enjoy doing it.

Sometimes I don't know if I even really want a new career. I just really like to learn. It doesn't matter so much what the subject is, I find new things interesting in general. Some of my favorite subjects are history, math, English and art. Hmmmm... that is pretty much all of them.

I don't have the time to go back to school right now, but that doesn't have to hold you back anymore. Right now the USC Rossier School of Education’s offers current educators and aspiring teachers a Master of Arts in Teaching degree the convenience and flexibility of studying online. I have taken some online classes before and I found them so convenient. You can do your homework any time of day. You can arrange your class times around your own schedule. Most assignments have to be timestamped and are due by certain times of the day or night.

The classes were interactive, which was unexpected in distance learning. Since you correspond mostly through email, you get a lot of one on one attention from your instructor. Message boards, forums, and chat rooms allow for class discussions and getting to know your classmates. Best of all, you can learn from USC professors, without having to travel!

You can view the program information here. Pay close attention because, yes, that DOES say that you can complete this course in as little as 12 months. You get full USC student status and benefits, participation in commencement ceremonies and free lifetime Alumni Association memberships. You will earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from a school with a 100-year history of educating teachers to be agents of change. And probably coolest of all, you get to be a Trojan!

My Sister the Baker

My sister is gluten intolerant. It's too bad for her, but it isn't so bad for me. My sister is a fantastic baker. She makes all manner of things from cakes to scones, cinnamon rolls and homemade bread. She seems to be using her baking as a way to cope with her dietary restrictions.

Most recently she has been making cranberry scones with a lemon glaze. I am trying to convince her to make cherry and macadamia nut scones, but she hasn't yet. I actually have a whole list of ingredients that I would like her include in her scones. Cherry is just my Summertime suggestion.

I have just emailed her a recipe for beignets. Caleb and I are snuggling in bed watching the Princess and the Frog. I just love the part where Charlotte orders 500 "man catching beignets" from Tiana. More than that, I love beignets, but I can't even remember the last time that I had one. I hope that she decides to make them... They aren't baked though, I hope that doesn't sway her decision. A beignet, like most other foods that are fantastic, is fried.

Cindy, if you're reading this, make some beignets. Even if you already have, go ahead and make them again! YUM!

Mission Tortillas

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Mission Foods. All opinions are 100% mine.

Shawn's dad makes homemade tortillas from scratch. I still haven't even tried his recipe, and most people in the family are they same way. They leave the tortilla making up to him because he is the best at it. Many times, as we are spending time together as a family, one of the grandkids will ask Grandpa to make tortillas and everyone is quick to second the motion. Just tonight, Shawn's parents brought over a fresh batch for us.

As much as we love grandpa's tortillas, they aren't always available. Shawn can eat through a whole batch in about 2 and a half days. The other down side to having fresh, homemade tortillas so often is that your taste buds get spoiled! It's hard to find a store bought tort that Shawn can even tolerate.

The only brand that he can enjoy is Mission Tortillas. They taste very fresh, and although they are thinner than his dad's tortillas, they are just as tasty. They come in several different sizes so you can use them in lots of different recipes.

My favorite thing to make with my torts is breakfast burritos! I usually make them with scrambled eggs, cheese, and bacon. Shawn likes to have them with peanut butter, and Caleb likes the same thing. He also likes them with melted cheese. Shawn's mom eats them with butter. You can eat them any which way you want them because they are a very inexpensive ingredient. Whether it's burritos, soft tacos, wraps, or low carb alternative, they are always delicious.

So, everyone has their favorite way to eat their tort. Mission Tortillas is having a contest called Mission Menus Challenge. Chef Sara Moulton is encouraging people to submit budget friendly recipes to www.MissionMenusChallenge.com. You could get the chance to compete in a cook off. At the cook off, you will be competing to win a $10,000 dream kitchen makeover as well as a host of weekly prizes.

The grand prize winner will win round-trip airfare and hotel for two to the Mission Menus Challenge Cook-off at the Hard Rock Café in LA.

All recipes must:
• Must include Mission Flour Tortillas
• Be original
• Feed a family of five for $10 or less

And... Rain

The amount of rain we have been having this summer. This has been our rainiest year since 1944, or so they tell me.

And then...

The last few days have been glorious. The weekend was wonderful. I sat in the sun, Caleb ran through the sprinkler and played in the pool. We ate Popsicles outside on the porch. We worked on the yard and BBQed.

And now...

Today it rained. Just a couple of days before the holiday weekend and it starts raining. I think it drove everyone crazy. On my way home from work, I saw people lighting fireworks in the rain.

I think we are all just trying to hold on to our sanity while we pray for summer.

Flowers For The Lady

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of 1-800-Flowers. All opinions are 100% mine.

1800 Flowers asked me today - who would I like to send flowers? Of course I immediately think of my husband because I love him so much. Then I realize that he doesn't want flowers, he wants video games. So, then I think of my mom. She loves flowers. My dad gets my mom flowers pretty often. She really does adore them... but she gets them all the time. If I am going to send flowers to someone just because, it would be nice for it to be a special treat for them... Then I thought of the perfect person to send flowers to...

ME! That's right, I said it! I want flowers! I want to send them to myself and I want the card to say, "for all of the hard work you do that goes totally unnoticed by the entire world, day after day." I'll tell ya what else! I want something big, too. Like a huge bouquet of roses, or a nice Summer mix of red, white and blue.

I was going to get myself the biggest, most expensive thing, but then I saw the "Sweet Summer Gardenia Plant" that is planted in the cutest purple pot. Now there is my kind of plant! Gardenias smell so nice and they turn into the biggest prettiest bush. My Aunt Pam has a gardenia bush outside of her front door. Just a few blossoms brought inside smell up the whole front of the house.

Yes, I could just go pick up some flowers at the market, but you haven't heard the whole plan. Nothing is better than getting a flower delivery at work. So I am going to send myself a massive bouquet of flowers, and I am going to receive it at work. Once, a customer sent me some flowers at work because I am fantastic (it's true). It was so nice to get a little something in the middle of my work day.

Now, alright, maybe you aren't the type to send yourself flowers. Maybe you want to send them to someone other than you... someone like me? Oh c'mon, I'm obviously kidding. If you're a guy, then there is no question - send them to your wife. Not your mother, not if it isn't Mother's Day. Send them to your wife. Do it right now. If you're a lady, send them to your mom. Ooh and send them with some super sappy card about how she made you the person that you are today. Gosh, that always makes my mom cry!

You know who else you can send flowers to? Your best friend! Why don't girls do that? Why don't we send flowers to our best friends? My friend Claire sent me flowers once. It was so nice. She lives in Texas, and it meant so much to know that she was thinking of me from so far away.

I would probably send flowers to my sister if she wasn't allergic. Allergies won't stop you if you shop at 1800 Flowers! They have all types of plants, like bonsai trees.

Here is a real winner... The Margarita Time Party Bucket. If you haven't stopped by the website, then you really don't know, do ya? I think they have something for everyone at this place. Cookies, wine, candied apples, and of course flowers and plants. I'm definitely sending my husband a box of cookies to his work this year. I love to draw attention to him by having things delivered to his work. I can just imagine him blushing now!

Unhappy Eyes

My eyeballs are killing me! I was driving to work today and I saw something plastic on the floor mat of the passenger seat. My purse had spilled all over the place a few days ago and each day I have been finding something new after it slides out from under the seat. The little plastic this I spied was my contacts case. I hadn't worn them in a while, so I popped them in my eyes.

Eck. I will NOT be doing that again! It was hard for me to see things close up. I had to keep squinting at everything. They were super dry and my eyes kept making eye boogers. It felt like there was a thick layer of slime all over them.

I took them out of my eyes as soon as I got home, and I am still suffering. It feels like my eyelashes are made of needles and all of them are ingrown. I knew there was a reason that I stopped wearing those blasted things!